Category: Advocacy

We’re delighted to partner with MYReaders, a community-led group that seeks to address illiteracy in the Bangsar low-income community! In its first week, MYReaders made contact with students from SMK Bangsar to ascertain their current literacy level.

Rev. Benedict’s sermon was a powerful reminder about the “bullied” people in our midst and the power of prayer.

We sometimes forget, we are one church that stretches across the world. Whenever one part suffers, we all suffer.

While the message highlighted solidarity and awareness, through it all, there was also a tone of hope: hope in the awesome power of God in the midst of great evil.

We also heard a powerful story of prayer across the world that made a real difference.

Sometimes we get so caught up in the smallness of things that we miss the bigness of God.

So what should we do when we are “bullied”?

We need to respond in love and prayer:

Then if my people who are called by my name will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sins and restore their land. – 2 Chronicles 7:14.

That’s a call to us.

***

As part of his visit with us, Rev. Benedict also shared that Open Doors is celebrating its 60th Anniversary this year.

We refer to the written statement made by the de facto Minister for Law in Parliament yesterday stating that there would be no prosecution of Ibrahim Ali over his Bible-burning statement as he was “only defending the sanctity of Islam”.

The Christian Federation of Malaysia on behalf of Christians in Malaysia is outraged at the fact that threats to burn our Holy Bible is considered an act in defence of Islam.

The CFM feels strongly that this position is irresponsible as it gives carte blanche or free rein to other extremists to do likewise not just to Christians but to any other religious community that is not Muslim.

By no logic or rationalisation and under no circumstances whatsoever can a threat or call to violent action, desecration of another Malaysian citizen’s sacred text be considered defensive.

We strongly protest against the obviously inexcusable position adopted by the Government. We call upon all right thinking members of Parliament, irrespective of their ethnicity, religious background or political affiliation to join in passing a motion of censure against the Minister for making such a scandalous and irresponsible statement.

Connect via Twitter: If you’re on twitter, make sure to follow ISUM: https://twitter.com/ISUMSummit2014
(Hint, you might find some of our ISUM participants’ minute-to-minute live-tweeting from some of the main sessions!)

Save the date! ISUM will be joining with Micah Network next year for their 6th Global Triennial Consultation: September 14th-18th, 2015 in Lima, Peru! The theme will be Integral Mission and Shalom: Peace, Hope and Joy. Mark your calendars!